Surrey high school Kabaddi league brings generations together

Surrey's newest sports league isbringing a traditional Indian sport toyounger generations.

"As long as I can remember,Kabaddihas been part of my community and I've always been going out to watch. This is thefirst time I got a chance to play and Ilove playing it," said playerPaulvirDosanj.

Teams fromTamanawis,EnverCreek, L.A.Mathesonand Panorama Ridge secondary schools have taken part in the first-ever Surrey High SchoolKabaddi League.

Kabaddiis a traditional Indian team sport falling somewhere between tag and red rover, with a lot of wrestling thrown in.

The rulesare a little more complicated and the physical demandsmuch higher.

What is Kabaddi?

7 years ago

Duration 1:29

Kabaddi has become a high school sport in Surrey

Teams are positioned at opposite ends of a smallfield, with players standing barefoot.

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There are 4 players on each side, called stoppers. They lock arms, as each team takes turns sending in a "raider."

The raider tries to tag a memberof the opposite team,earning a point, but only if he can getback across the centre line.The defending team tries to stop and hold the raider, most often with a tackle.

Connects parents, grandparents

The semi-final game played at L.A. Matheson Secondary School on Tuesday drew hundreds of spectators, many from the high school but also some older fans.

"Kabaddiis a sport that really resonates within this community. It carriesmemories fora lot of students' fathers andgrandparents," said organizer MandeepDhaliwal.

He said it gives parents,grandparents and other elderly people in the communitya way to connect to the schools.

"When they see a kabaddigame on, they walk over, and get a lot of pride," he said.

As for the younger generation, they've also fully welcomed the traditional game and are invested in it.

"It brings diversity to the school and allows everybody to be part of something,"SimrinHundal, a student at L.A. Matheson.

Organizers also hope the sport will give students in the Surrey school district another alternative to getting in trouble.

"Itjust provides one more positive outlet. It was a way for us to tap them on the shoulder and say, you know what, you can channel your energy this way," said Dhaliwal.

"The sport carries a lot of pride, to be a kabaddiplayer it is not easy. It takes a lot ofstrength, a lot of courage to get out there and battle other people," he said.

He said the sport is all about positivity and sportsmanship.

"If you have a good battle with someone, a good wrestling battle with someone you put out your hand and you lift them up," he said.

The league was formed three months ago, but Dhaliwal hopes the sport will be part of the school district's athletic's association program eventually.

The final game of the tournament will be played at Tamanwis Secondary School on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.